How should a garage follow up repair quotes and MOT advisories?
Send the quote in writing the same day, with a photo of the worn part and a plain explanation, then follow up a few days later and again before the problem is likely to get worse. MOT advisories are a natural reason to get back in touch, because the driver has already been told the item needs watching.
By Sammy Morgan, who runs M1 Studio in Chichester. Updated .
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- Industry
- Car garages and MOT centres
- Problem
- Quotes that go quiet
- The fix
- Missed-Call Rescue, £800
- Do it yourself?
- Yes, the first steps below
Why it happens to car garages and mot centres.
- Drivers can’t see what you saw
- A worn brake disc or a leaking shock absorber means little in words. Without a photo, a quote can feel like a sales pitch, so they get a second opinion.
- Advisories get forgotten
- An MOT can pass with advisories: items to watch or repair soon. Drivers mean to come back, then forget until it becomes a failure or a breakdown.
- Price shopping is easy
- Drivers can ring round for a price on common jobs like brakes, tyres or a clutch. If you don’t follow up, the cheapest phone quote often wins.
- Extra work needs clear agreement
- The Motor Ombudsman’s Service and Repair Code, which accredited garages sign up to, expects extra work to be done only with the customer’s prior agreement. A clear written quote makes that agreement easy.
What to do, in order.
Quote in writing, with a photo
Text or email the quote the same day with a photo of the part, what happens if it’s left and how long the job takes.
Log every advisory
Keep a list of MOT advisories and repair quotes that weren’t booked, with the driver’s name, the item and the date.
Follow up at sensible times
A few days after the quote, and again a few weeks later or before winter for items like tyres and brakes. Keep it helpful, not pushy.
Make booking easy
Every follow-up should include a way to book: a link to online booking or a number that someone answers.
Automate the reminders
Missed-Call Rescue (£800) includes a simple CRM with automatic reminders, so every open quote and advisory gets followed up. Text and app fees are paid at cost or directly by you, and listed before you agree.
Where M1 can do it for you.
Fixed prices, or a fixed quote before any work starts. No VAT is charged. Any running costs are listed before you agree.
- Missed-Call Rescue £800
Every open repair quote and advisory sits in one list with reminders to follow up, and missed calls get a text back.
Missed calls get a text back, automatically.
- Growth Build from £6,500
A new garage website with a CRM, follow-up reminders and a chat assistant that answers booking questions in the evening.
Turn enquiries into bookings.
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Before you decide.
Something else? Ask Sammy on WhatsApp.
Is it pushy to follow up MOT advisories?
Not if it’s useful. The driver has already been told the item needs watching, so a short reminder with a photo and a price is a service. Keep it to one or two messages. The guide to following up a quote has example wording.
What should a written repair quote include?
The parts and labour, the total including VAT if you charge it, how long the job takes, and a photo of the problem where you can. Being clear up front also makes it easy to agree any extra work before you do it.
Can follow-ups go out automatically?
Reminders to you can be automatic, and so can a simple text on a set day. A CRM keeps every open quote in one place so none slips.
Keep reading.
Know what to fix. Then decide.
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